It’s no secret that the cryptocurrency markets have been tough this year, and many who invested in late 2017 or early 2018 have lost a significant amount of their investment. Bitcoin and Ethereum are down considerably from their all-time highs, and tensions are running high in the cryptocurrency community. Many influencers have attempted to urge caution, and have tried to tell investors to calm down.
On a holiday (Thanksgiving) where many reflect on the things in life that they should be thankful for, and spend the entire day with their family, one of the most controversial figures in cryptocurrency fired off a series of tweets that many believe is racist, leading to John Mcafee having more controversy surrounding him than usual.
The main tweet in question has been deleted, although Mcafee seems to be stereotyping and directly insulting black people. Those who are black (or claim to be) on Twitter have fired off tweets, claiming that Mcafee is clearly a racist, or simply declaring that they have unfollowed him. It should be noted that others defended him because his longtime partner (or wife) is actually black, and is a former prostitute, as well.
The tweet is understandably offense, as Mcafee claims that “only 5% of blacks are professionals”, although it is unclear exactly what he means by this. He elaborates by stating that “95% are in prisons, or selling drugs or on welfare.’ He then stated that “families have multiple fathers and none are present” and that “poverty is rampant”. He summarizes this by generalizing this as “the true black culture”.
It’s not surprising that Mcafee realized that this tweet would offend many people, as he deleted it, but of course, that didn’t stop his followers from screenshotting the tweet to hold him accountable. It’s also important to keep in mind that Mcafee also plans on running for president, as well, which could have factored into the fact that he deleted the tweet, as well.
Jackson Palmer, the creator of Dogecoin and a cryptocurrency influencer with almost 50,000 followers, immediately criticized Mcafee, tweeting: “Screw this guy and his deleted tweet”, while adding a screenshot of the tweet in question. Jackson’s tweet has over 250 likes and 30 retweets.
Screw this guy and his deleted tweet. pic.twitter.com/JZJqEA605w
— Jackson Palmer (@ummjackson) November 22, 2018
While Mcafee did delete that specific tweet, he hasn’t deleted other tweets that seem related. There is another tweet that many might deem offensive to women. Specifically, Mcafee shares an article that includes a survey stating that he is the most influential figure in the cryptocurrency space, “among both Republicans and Democrats and both Milennials and GenX”. When a Twitter user by the name of Felix Lopez tweeted at Mcafee, he responded using language that some might find offensive.
Specifically, Mcafee claims that he has “absorbed” the lingo of “black culture” since he has been with a black woman for a long time. He stated that “black men who are true to their culture call their wives or girlfriends ‘bitches’, and I introduce Janice thusly – ‘This is my bitch, Janice”. He added that “white women freak out”. He has not deleted this tweet.
I’ve been with a black woman so long that I’ve absorbed the Black culture’s lingo. Example: Black men who are true to their culture call their wives and girlfriends “bitches”, without being derogatory. I introduce Janice thusly – “This is my bitch, Janice”. White women freak out.
— John McAfee (@officialmcafee) November 22, 2018
While it is true that the term “bitches” might be used in popular culture and even music, such as the genre of hip-hop; many did not appreciate the fact that Mcafee claimed to be an authority on “black culture”, or the fact that he stereotyped African-Americans as criminals. In addition, others found the fact that he referred to his wife as a “bitch” offensive, as well. One particular tweet pointed out that he was completely wrong in terms of statistics:
95% of all blacks in America are either in jail, dealing drugs or on welfare? I’m gonna go ahead and challenge that statistic.
Black poverty rate – 22%
Black incarceration rate – 3.8%
Blacks dealing drugs ~ 1.1%Total – 26.9% not 95%
Happy Thanksgiving
— [Never Go Full Capitulation] ⛔ (@dAnconiaMining) November 22, 2018
Although (arguably) the most offensive tweet has been deleted, a controversial tweet still remains where Mcafee argues with a Twitter user who tells him that he sounds “daft”. Mcafee responds that the “blacks that integrate into white culture…represent less than 5% of the black community, they are in no way representative.”
Daft to you. Real world experience to me. Dive in yourself and take a look if you have the balls. The blacks that integrate into the white culture – professionals, actors spokespeople – represent less than 5% of the black community, they are in no way representative.
— John McAfee (@officialmcafee) November 22, 2018
There are other users that have attempted to defend Mcafee, trying to claim that he cannot be racist because he has a black wife – who has not commented on any of the tweets as of yet. Others have tried to claim that the generalizations were “facts”, and Mcafee was just being factual, not racist. Either way, Mcafee, from his own account, has claimed to be black less than a month ago:
I am not. I am black. Always have been. I gave a skin disease which has turned my skin virtually white. But, motherfucker, what’s it to you. To racist to follow a black man?
— John McAfee (@officialmcafee) October 27, 2018
In a tweet from earlier this year, Mcafee claimed “I just cannot tolerate racists and bigots”.
It is unclear whether this will affect his presidential run, or whether Mcafee will acknowledge the deleted tweets, or offer an apology.
